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Natural gas policies deserve public scrutiny

Francis X. Smith

Posted:
05/15/2013 08:17:03 PM MDT

To the editor:

Ten years ago, then-Fed Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan warned that shortfalls in domestic gas production would hurt the economy, so he proposed increasing natural gas imports as the solution. Today, special terminals that were built for importing natural gas are being retrofitted for exporting natural gas. Natural gas supports 1.7 million American jobs, a figure that could double by 2035.

A very dramatic turnaround. Why? American ingenuity once again provided the answer with improved hydraulic fracturing. Now, there is a portion of the public that has promoted fear of fracking with unsubstantiated claims. Yes, there are environmental risks associated with fracking, but I am not aware of children being poisoned as a result of the over 1.2 million wells that have been fracked.

Industry and EPA officials have been working together to protect both our environment and our economy. We need that balance. If natural gas production is reduced, it will be replaced by coal, with its more damaging impact on our environment. Essentially, reducing natural gas increases coal usage. Pick your poison, so to speak.

America's energy independence is vital to both our economy and our national security, and fracking is one tool that is leading us in that direction. The fact that we will soon be a major exporter of natural gas will assist in lowering our huge trade deficit, and create more jobs. Will exporting natural gas increase pricing? Yes. Will that drive more production and more jobs? Also, yes.

Finally, the really good news is that American creativity is still abundant. It will be that creativity which will result in the development of economical feasible and plentiful renewable energy for our future needs.

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